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License

license n

[Anglo-French, literally, permission, from Old French, from Latin licentia, from licent-licens, present participle of licēre to be permitted, be for sale]1 a: a right or permission granted by a competent authority (as of a government or a business) to engage in some business or occupation, do some act, or engage in some transaction which would be unlawful without such right or permission ;also: a document, plate, or tag evidencing a license granted b: revocable authority or permission given solely to one having no possessory rights in a tract of land to do something on that land which would otherwise be unlawful or a trespass compare easement, leasec: a grant by the holder of a copyright or patent to another of any of the rights embodied in the copyright or patent short of an assignment of all rights 2: a defense (as to trespass) that one's act was in accordance with a license granted 3 a: freedom that allows or is used with irresponsibility b: disregard for standards of personal conduct : licentiousness vt li·censedli·cens·ing1: to issue a license to 2: to permit or authorize by a license